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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:

  • That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
  • We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
  • On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.

By learning about Altona (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.

As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for Altona. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.

Neighboring Counties ...

When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.

For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.

So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived:  their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the west contained birth and death records; the county to the north contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.

Altona is located in Mecosta County.

To see how the shape of Michigan's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Mecosta County: Clare, Isabella, Lake, Montcalm, Newaygo & Osceola.

Below are the counties that are near Altona. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Altona:

  • Mecosta County     (The home county of Altona)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Altona, with the one closest to Altona listed first.
    • Canadian Lakes
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Canadian Lakes is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canadian Lakes
    • Rustford
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Rustford is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rustford
    • Halls Corner
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Halls Corner is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halls Corner
    • Mecosta
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Borland
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Borland is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borland
    • Morley
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Stanwood
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Rodney
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Remus
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Millbrook
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Millbrook is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millbrook
    • Big Rapids
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Chippewa Lake
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
  • Clare County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Altona, with the one closest to Altona listed first.
    • Lake
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Lake is located in Clare County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake
      • Former name for Lake:
      • Lake Station
    • Farwell
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Gratiot County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Altona, with the one closest to Altona listed first.
    • Elm Hall
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Elm Hall is located in Gratiot County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elm Hall
    • Riverdale
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Sumner
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Sumner is located in Gratiot County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumner
    • Elwell
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Ionia County
    • Belding
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Isabella County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Altona, with the one closest to Altona listed first.
    • Blanchard
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Lake Isabella
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Lake Isabella is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Isabella
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,688 people
      • Lake Isabella has also been known as:
      • Lake Isabella village
    • Sherman City ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Sherman City is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman City
    • Winn
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Winn is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winn
    • Weidman
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Brinton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Brinton is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brinton
    • Beal City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Beal City is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beal City
    • Strickland
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Strickland is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strickland
    • Crawford
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Crawford is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford
    • Mount Pleasant
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Summerton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Summerton is located in Isabella County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerton
    • Rosebush
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Kent County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Altona, with the one closest to Altona listed first.
    • Sand Lake
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Harvard
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Harvard is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvard
    • Sheffield
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Sheffield is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sheffield
    • Cedar Springs
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Edgerton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Edgerton is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgerton
  • Lake County
    • Chase
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Montcalm County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Altona, with the one closest to Altona listed first.
    • Lakeview
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Amble
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Amble is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amble
    • Six Lakes
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Coral
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Howard City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Wyman
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Wyman is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyman
    • Langston
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Langston is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langston
    • Trufant
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Entrican
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Entrican is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Entrican
    • Edmore
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Pierson
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • McBride
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
  • Muskegon County
  • Newaygo County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Altona, with the one closest to Altona listed first.
    • Croton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Croton is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croton
    • Riverview
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Riverview is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverview
    • White Cloud
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Hawkins
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Hawkins is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawkins
    • Ramona
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Ramona is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramona
    • Sun
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Sun is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun
    • Newaygo
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Brohman
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Brohman is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brohman
      • Former names for Brohman:
      • Dingman
      • Otia
    • Grant
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Wooster
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Wooster is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wooster
    • Ashland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Ashland is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
    • Aetna
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Aetna is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aetna
  • Osceola County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Altona, with the one closest to Altona listed first.
    • Hersey
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Orient
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Orient is located in Osceola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orient
    • Evart
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Evart is located in Osceola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evart
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,886 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Evart <1>
    • Sears
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Chippewa Station ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Chippewa Station is located in Osceola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chippewa Station
    • Reed City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Altona, see our County-by-County Page for Altona.

Cemeteries Near Altona ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Altona.

This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.

Although we don't have the information ourselves, if you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our list of websites on our Genealogy Helper Page for Altona - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Altona covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Altona, with the one closest to Altona listed first.

  • Altona Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Stanwood Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Hinton Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Rustford Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Higbee Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Higbee Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Higbee Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 3 miles [4.8 km]<2> to the southeast of Stanwood.
    • The Higbee Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Greenwood Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2134977 <3>
  • Morton Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Indian Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Olin Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Quigley Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Boyd Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Dickerson Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Holt Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (206 more) ...
    • St. Apollonia Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Lakeview Village Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeview Village Cemetery
      • To give a relative sense of its location, the Lakeview Village Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the north of Lakeview.
      • The Lakeview Village Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Lakeview Cemetery
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #897 <3>
    • Morton Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)

Nearby Communities in 1895 ...

We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<4>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Altona had a population of 152 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Altona, with the one closest to Altona listed first.

  • Rustford
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Rustford is located in Mecosta County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rustford
  • Sylvester
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Sylvester is located in Mecosta County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvester
  • Mecosta
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Borland
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Borland is located in Mecosta County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borland
  • Morley
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Lakeview
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Stanwood
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Amble
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Amble is located in Montcalm County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amble
  • Remus
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Rodney
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Six Lakes
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Blanchard
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Millbrook
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Millbrook is located in Mecosta County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millbrook
    • Howard City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Coral
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Altona. See our List of 1890's Communities around Altona.

Newspapers Published in Altona ...

An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).

To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.

Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 147 newspapers that have been published in the area around Altona.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Altona, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Altona.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer websites offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.

To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Altona:

Footnotes ...

<1>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<2>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Altona) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<3>The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com.
<4>We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Altona, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.